PSAT/NMSQT Prep 2022 - Eggert M.D., Strelka A. 2022

How to use this book

This book is designed to help you score high on the PSAT. We understand that your time is limited and that this book is hefty, but nobody expects you to read every word. Nor do we expect you to go in order. If you need more work on the Writing and Language section than on Math, for example, then feel free to skip over the math chapters. The most efficient way to use this book is to spend the most time on those areas that give you trouble, starting with those that are tested most often. If you’re not sure, use the pretests we provide in each chapter to figure out how much time to spend on that material.

Chapter Organization

Most chapters start with a section called “How Much Do You Know?” that helps you get a sense of how comfortable you already are with the material in the chapter. Answers and explanations follow immediately in the “Check Your Work” section. Each lesson in a chapter starts with a question typical of the way the PSAT tests a given topic and ends with a set of practice questions called “Try on Your Own.” There is yet another practice set at the end of each chapter called “How Much Have You Learned?” to reinforce the concepts explained in the chapter. Answers and Explanations for the “Try on Your Own” and “How Much Have You Learned?” sections are found at the end of each chapter for easy reference.

Practice Tests

There are two practice tests at the back of this book, both with full answer explanations. We recommend that you spread them out: take one when you first start to study for the PSAT and the second about a week before your test date.

You’re Already on Your Way

You already have many of the skills you’ll need to excel on the PSAT, but you’ll need to adapt those skills to the structure of the exam. For example, you already know how to read. You’ve probably also created outlines for essays you’ve written in school. This book will teach you to adapt to the PSAT by outlining a passage as you read it. It will also teach you to adapt your math skills to solve questions more efficiently, locate grammar issues quickly and confidently, and prioritize the topics that get tested the most.

SmartPoints^®

Different topics are worth different numbers of points on the PSAT because they show up more or less frequently in questions. By studying the information released by the College Board, Kaplan has been able to determine how often certain topics are likely to show up on the PSAT, and therefore how many points these topics are worth on test day. If you master a given topic, you can expect to earn the corresponding number of SmartPoints on test day.

We have used a 600-point scale for SmartPoints because that’s the number of points you can earn within the Math and Verbal subscores: the PSAT scoring scale is 160—760, so there are 760 − 160 = 600 points to be earned within each major section of the test. The breakdown of SmartPoints for Math, Reading, and Writing and Language are summarized in the following tables. Keep in mind that these values are approximate because testing administrations differ.

Extra Chapters

The chapters in this book will help you answer most questions on test day, but there is some additional content that will be covered on the PSAT. To cover this content and take your preparation to the next level, we have provided 12 additional chapters online. See Digital Resources below to learn how to access these extra materials.

Digital Resources

To access the online resources that accompany this book, which include extra practice sets and study planning guidance as well as 12 additional chapters of instruction and practice, follow the steps below:

1. Go to kaptest.com/moreonline.

2. Have this book available as you complete the on-screen instructions.

3. Once you have registered your book, sign into your online resources at kaptest.com.

Are you registered for the PSAT?

Kaplan cannot register you for the official PSAT. If you have not already registered for the upcoming PSAT, talk to your high school guidance counselor or visit the College Board’s website at www.collegeboard.org to register online and for information on registration deadlines, test sites, accommodations for students with disabilities, and fees.

The PSAT/NMSQT is generally administered on only two days in mid-October. For the first time, the College Board also scheduled an additional test date on January 26, 2021. This may have been a one-time occurrence; it is probably best to plan to test in October. Be sure to register well in advance of your test date. Your high school guidance counselor may also have more information about registering for the PSAT. Homeschooled students can contact the guidance office of a local high school to make arrangements to take the exam at that school.

Don’t Forget Your Strengths

As your test date approaches, shift your practice to your strengths. Let’s say you’re good at geometry. You might not need the instructional text covering geometry in this book, but in the final week before your test date, you should still do a few geometry practice questions. Think about it: your strengths are your most reliable source of points on test day. Build that confidence in the final stretch. And just as if the PSAT were an athletic event, get plenty of sleep in the days leading up to it.

Let’s Get Started

Want to get a feel for the PSAT before you start studying? Take one of the practice tests at the back of this book. Otherwise, start by identifying the sections of the test you think will give you the most trouble. Choose a high-yield topic and dig in. On test day, you’ll be glad you did!